Managing holiday expectations for autistic individuals and families using the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions approach
The holidays are filled with expectations—joyful ones, stressful ones, and sometimes impossible ones. For autistic individuals and their families, these expectations can feel like a minefield: long dinners, loud gatherings, unfamiliar foods, and unspoken social rules. Even with everyone’s best intentions, the pressure to “join in” or “act festive” can lead to exhaustion, meltdowns, and […]
10 things parents should look for when choosing an autism evaluation partner
Choosing the right clinician or clinic for your child’s autism diagnostic evaluation is an important step toward getting answers and support. A strong evaluation partner should help you feel informed, respected, and confident throughout the process. Here are ten key things to look for: 1. A comprehensive, multi-method evaluation Your provider should use a full […]
Melodies of meaning: An autistic SLP, parent, and Gestalt Language Processor’s journey
Language has always felt like music to me I’ve never thought in tidy, linear sentences—more like waves of meaning and emotion that arrive as full phrases, echoes of memories, and familiar rhythms. I didn’t have a word for that until much later: Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), a natural way many autistic people learn and use […]
From the holidays I imagined to the ones we need: Supporting autistic children through sensory needs, ARFID, and family expectations
When you’re raising an autistic child, the holiday season can feel like stepping into a world built for someone else’s family. The expectations, the noise, the schedules, the food, the traditions—they all come wrapped in layers that don’t always fit our children, or us. Growing up in a big Filipino-American family, the holidays were loud, […]
Autism and disaster preparedness: strategies for safety
If you’ve ever wondered how your autistic child or teen might respond in an emergency, you’re not alone. Every family wants their child to feel safe, supported, and secure when the unexpected happens. Preparing for emergencies can be an empowering process, one that helps your child build confidence, express their needs, and feel reassured by […]
Holiday food for autistic individuals and their families
Togetherness doesn’t have to look one way. Shared connection can happen through presence, laughter, and companionship, not just shared plates. Many autistic individuals experience connection through parallel participation — sitting nearby, listening, or engaging in their own quiet way. Others may find joy in preparing, serving, or observing, even if they’re not eating the same […]
Language that blooms: how Gestalt Language Processing helps us see communication differently
Language is more than words. It’s rhythm, emotion, and connection. It’s the feeling behind a phrase, the melody in our tone, the way safety allows sound to form into meaning. For many autistic children, language development doesn’t begin with single words like mama or ball. It often starts with full phrases—gestalts—that carry emotional weight and […]
“I’ve got it” is a lie we were taught to tell
Asking for support is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to learn. Maybe it’s cultural, something about being an American woman comes with layers of conditioning. From an early age, we’re taught to be capable, to hold it all together, to succeed without complaint. To ask for help feels paralyzing, like a confession […]
Neurotypical or neurodivergent: Understanding differences, strengths, and inclusion
Neurotypical or neurodivergent: Why this conversation matters Have you ever wondered why some people thrive in noisy, bustling environments while others need quiet to recharge? Or why one person can hyper focus for hours on a project while another struggles to stay on task for more than a few minutes? Or, why someone might be […]
Are telehealth autism or ADHD evaluations accurate? What you should know.
Short answer: yes! For many children and adults, remote (telehealth) assessments are a reliable, evidence-based option that can capture the same core areas clinicians look for in person. What the research says about telehealth autism evaluations What does a thorough and reliable assessment include? Before proceeding with a telehealth diagnostic evaluation, it is important to […]
